Recipes

Baked Zucchini Fries

June 25, 2014 by Becky

Baked zucchini fries are not only fast and easy to make, but it’s a great way to use all that zucchini in your garden when your plants are giving you more than you can use (and give away!). This makes a great summer side, and it’s a great alternative for zucchini when you’re tired of zucchini bread, brownies & cake!

These baked zucchini fries can be prepped in less than 5 minutes, then just toss them in the oven while you worry about the rest of your meal. They are crispy and delicious and they go great with just about any main dish! Whether you’re grilling burgers or broiling chicken, these will be a great addition to your meal.

Ingredients

https://westerngardens.com/baked-zucchini-fries/

How to cut Grape Tomatoes {Tip!}

June 17, 2014 by Becky

Today I have a great tip for you–how to cut grape tomatoes quickly and easily! {Plus a to-die-for recipe that just happens to need grape tomato halves!} With this simple method I can cut a dry pint of grape tomatoes in less than a minute!

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Berry Green Smoothie

June 11, 2014 by Becky

If you are looking for a little variety in your green smoothie repertoire , try this Berry Green Smoothie! It’s loaded with greens, but still has enough fruit to make it sweet for my picky kids. Green smoothies are the best when it comes to great nutrition that I can actually get IN my kids!

Smoothies are great for getting fruits and veggies in kids and adults alike. If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat a variety of veggies, try juicing small amounts of your vegetable choice and putting it in a smoothie. It will give them added nutrition while helping them acquire a taste for those veggies they think they don’t like! Sometimes all it takes is a little exposure for kids to realized they actually do like it!…

Roasted Broccoli

June 3, 2014 by Becky

We discovered roasted broccoli last year at our house, and veggies have never been the same. I don’t steam broccoli anymore because roasting is so easy and delicious, and holds more of the nutrition in. Great as a simple side dish, or even to go in a casserole, you will love roasted broccoli!

We wanted carrots to go with our broccoli, so I added a big handful to the bag before I tossed it with the avocado oil. They finished roasting at the same time, and they were a fabulous addition to our meal! I added freshly ground Real Salt and pepper, and they tasted buttery when they came out of the oven! Since no butter is used (but we love butter at our house!) it was a healthier choice with all the flavor! Avocado oil is my go-to oil for roasting because it has such a high smoke point (500 degrees!). Other oils can be substituted for roasting, but since this is my current favorite, it’s what I list in the recipe.

Snail Beer Trap

Ingredients

2 disposable plastic cups
an old pencil
a can of beer OR DIY Yeast Snail Bait
DIY Yeast Snail Bait:
1 Tbsp of flour
1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp of yeast
2 cups of water

Instructions

Dig a hole to fit one of the cups in your vegetable or flower garden, near your plants.
Place one cup inside the hole, making it level with the ground, so the snails don't have to climb far.
Carefully poke 4 drainage holes in the bottom of the remaining cup. Poke two more holes near the top, just under the lip, for the pencil to go through. This will ensure a gap between the cups so you can easily remove the top one to dispose of the snails the next morning.
Place the cup with the holes and pencil inside the cup buried in the ground.
Pour the beer or DIY Yeast Snail Bait inside the cup, leaving about an inch of headspace. The snails will climb down into the cup, and drown in the beer.

https://westerngardens.com/roasted-broccoli/

*I start checking mine at 10 minutes, but it usually takes 15. Smaller pieces may be done more quickly than larger pieces.

Ranch Roasted Potatoes

May 27, 2014 by Becky

Ranch Roasted Potatoes are one of our favorite summer side dishes. They are quick and easy to prepare, and can roast in the oven while you worry about everything else on your menu. Without fail, someone always comments about how delicious these potatoes are! And they couldn’t be any easier. This side dish is almost easy to overlook when it’s placed in a lineup with fresh fruit and grilling meats, but once you taste them, you’ll be eyeing the buffet for more! This recipe is perfect for trying out some of those new potatoes in your garden!…

Stuffed Bell Peppers

May 20, 2014 by Becky

Stuffed bell peppers are a summertime must! If you have bell peppers in your garden this year, be sure to save this recipe for stuffed peppers! Unlike many stuffed pepper recipes, this one is meatless, so it’s a great vegetarian option. If your garden gives you small bell peppers, this would be a great side dish for brunch!

Bite of Delight is sharing this recipe with us today, because it’s too good not to spread around a little more! The wild rice is a great mix of sweet and savory, and the egg helps tie it all together. It cooks until the egg is just set, so the yolk is nice and runny, making a great sauce for the rice. This is an easy weeknight dish, but fancy enough to make for company!

Fresh Peach Mint Lemonade

Ingredients

4 cups water
½ cup sugar
4 medium peaches, quartered
2 Tbsp mint leaves
1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 large lemons)

Instructions

Add water and sugar to a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add mint and peaches to sugar/water mix, reduce heat to med-low and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Pour into a blender jar and remove the center of the lid, if possible (to allow steam to escape).
Place a towel over the lid and blend on low for 25-30 seconds, or until smooth.
Pour through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a pitcher. Discard the solids.
Whisk in lemon juice and cool in fridge for at least 3 hours.

https://westerngardens.com/stuffed-bell-peppers/

Zucchini Chips

May 13, 2014 by Becky

Zucchini chips are a healthy, delicious snack, and a simple way to use up some of that end of season zucchini when you have used what you can and your plants are still giving! It takes only a few minutes to prepare, and then has some hands-off time in the oven. Doesn’t get much simpler!

Wash and dry your zucchini, then slice thinly, about 1/8 ” thick. Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment and lightly spray with olive oil. Place zucchini slices close together (but not touching) and lightly spray with olive oil.

Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. The zucchini will shrink as it dehydrates and the flavor will intensify, so don’t over-season your rounds. If you under-season them, you can always add more when they are done.

DIY Tabletop Terra Cotta Fire Pit

Ingredients

Terra Cotta Pot (visit Western Gardens for the largest selection of sizes and designs)
Aluminum Foil
Charcoal
Charcoal Lighter Fluid
Lighter

Instructions

Line terra cotta pot with aluminum foil.
Fill pot with charcoal.
Drizzle lighter fluid on top of charcoal.
Stand to the side and light charcoal.
When charcoal begins to turn white, start roasting!
If you have a chimney-style charcoal starter, you can use that to start your briquettes. Transfer to your terra cotta fire pit when they begin to turn white.

https://westerngardens.com/zucchini-chips/

Bruschetta

May 6, 2014 by Becky

One of our favorite ways to use tomatoes is in this simple, fresh & delicious bruschetta recipe. It goes together fast and is beautiful enough to serve to guests. This is a great way to use tomatoes when you have more than you can share with your neighbors (one of the best problems to have!).

Toasting the bread in a hot griddle with butter adds even more flavor, and makes them brown beautifully. This can be done with baguette (used here) for an appetizer size, or french bread for a main dish.

DIY Solar Lantern

Ingredients

empty small-mouth mason jar or other small decorative jar
inexpensive solar yard light
canning jar ring (optional)
hot glue

Instructions

Remove the lid/ring from your small jar.
Remove the solar light unit from the inexpensive solar light. Recycle the rest of the solar light or reserve for another project.
Place the solar light unit (with solar cells facing up) on/into the top of the jar opening. Secure with hot glue.
If desired, place a canning ring on top of the jar (around the solar light) and secure with hot glue.
Place solar lights in your yard, they look great sitting on the porch or hanging from a shepherd's hook!

https://westerngardens.com/bruschetta/

One of the best parts about this bruschetta is its versatility. If you like more salt, add more salt. If you want more basil, add more! You can adapt it to whatever your taste may be, and the wonderful flavors of the tomatoes and basil will always shine through.

Fruity Pasta Salad

April 29, 2014 by Becky

Looking for a fresh, colorful side dish for your Mother’s Day brunch this year? Try this fruity pasta salad! It’s versatile, flavorful, and easy to put together…perfect for busy moms and grandmas (and dads too)!

You can use any combination of soft fruits in this salad. Here we used strawberries, pineapple, grapes, kiwi and mandarin oranges.

Peaches, nectarines, grapefruit, plums, all kinds of berries, bananas…add whatever combination sounds good!

Strawberry Mango Salsa

Ingredients

1 cup strawberries, diced
1 cup mango, diced (about 1 mango)
1/8 cup red onion, diced
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 Tbsp honey
juice from 1 lime

Instructions

In a small bowl combine honey and lime juice.
In a large bowl combine strawberries, mangoes, onions and cilantro.
Toss with honey-lime mix.
Chill until ready to serve.

https://westerngardens.com/fruity-pasta-salad/

Roasted Vegetable Salad

April 22, 2014 by Becky

If you are in a salad rut, including roasted vegetables is a great way to add color, texture, flavor and dimension…with minimal effort! Roasting vegetables is not just easy to do, but it also brings out a wonderful flavor that is surprisingly delicious when paired with fresh lettuce and a cooked egg.

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